So Amazed

New Cabin

2012-05-27T10:03:00.000-05:00

My parents have purchased land in the Way North Country of our State. There is a small cabin on the property but no running water into that cabin and it has one room. And no bathroom.

This week a new cabin was started on the land. This cabin will have running water, a bathroom and more than one room! Here is a peek at our visit to the land Friday night.

The next 3 pictures are a panoramic view.

Looking to the right...

Looking straight back away from the cabin...

Looking to the left (the driveway is noted here)...

And then looking to the backside of the cabin.

This is a huge lot with lots of room for football,

tents, volleyball, etc!

From the front porch of the cabin, this is the view...the lake!

Beautiful!

The view from the front porch looking to the right...

Kidlet Three and his friend, Daniel, found this friend

I wish you could hear the silence.

And feel the peace.

While standing on the dock, this is the shoreline to the right...

Looking across the lake...

Looking up toward the cabin...

And the shoreline looking to the left.

This beaver popped up from the right shoreline and

swam right in front of us. I didn't realize

how fast they could swim.

The family that had this land before my parents,

made trails through the woods and named

each trail. Down by the lake is

the Old Road trail.

Here are some shots of the new construction

Amazing.

That God loves people so much that

He created the many shades of green, the ferns, flowers,

lake shore, beavers, and the silence.

All of it displays His beauty.

Amazing!

All Things New - Video

2012-05-23T08:04:00.001-05:00

An amazing truth...

He does make all things new...

Be blessed in this...

Do Not Disturb and A Confession

2012-05-17T21:23:00.004-05:00

This was the Do Not Disturb sign at our hotel recently.

Doesn't it make you giggle?

Maybe I enjoy it so much because I am one of those

mothers that ~~encouraged~~ allowed my Kidlets to jump

on hotel beds.

If you've ever had a lumpy mattress at a hotel

it might be my fault.

I'm sorry....

The Kidlets and I might've been jumping on it

before you stayed there.

Back to the Do Not Disturb sign.

Take a good look at this woman's face.

Can't you just feel her joy and freedom?

My wish for you today is that you

would have a restful day.

That you could experience joy and freedom like this woman.

You may have to go jump on your bed!

I give you permission.

What Is It...

2012-05-15T05:00:00.000-05:00

What is it about a candle

That can bring peace into a room?

Is it just me

or do you feel peaceful

when a candle is glowing?

The stack of dishes in the sink

The supper that needs to be started

The experiences from the day

All seem less threatening when I light a candle.

God knew it was important when He said
"Let there be Light"

So what is it about candlelight?

God's Peace!

Biz Bag

2012-05-14T10:20:00.003-05:00

Depending on your age, you may know what the two words "Biz Bag" mean.

Biz was a stain remover product from my growing up years. There was even a laundry bag that could be purchased that was labeled BIZ BAG.

Commercials on TV for Biz would show a child with really bad grass stains and the mom would say: Biz Bag...throw it in the Biz Bag.

The pants I'm showing below, from the first day of baseball practice, immediately went into the Biz Bag.

Did you catch the words FIRST DAY of baseball.

I wonder how many gallons of Biz I will be using for the upcoming baseball season.

I Live With an Osprey

2012-05-02T07:25:00.002-05:00

Kidlet Three is on a traveling baseball team that was given the name "Raptors". The boys didn't pick that name but was assigned it by the traveling association.

I know the boys wouldn't have picked "Raptors" as their name because I've overheard several of them debating as to just what a raptor is. One boy was afraid the traveling association would pick a dinosaur as the picture of our team. He went on to say he was afraid other teams would start calling the boys "Barney". See the boys are 14 and would just die with a purple dinosaur as their mascot!

Another boy was arguing that raptors were not dinosaurs but some sort of bird.

It has been fun to listen to these boys trying to figure out 'who they are' as a team.

So The Husband did some research and came up with a list of raptors. He attended a practice and Coach gave him time during the practice to read characteristics of raptors and actual types of raptors. As The Husband was reading this information one of the boys shouted out:

"hey, each of us should pick a raptor name and that is who we are"

With great excitement each boy picked a raptor name for themselves.

Thus, we have Kidlet Three the osprey living in our house. From the names hawk, falcon, buzzard, etc, Kidlet Three picked the osprey.

This picture is from The National Geographic website. I've decided I wouldn't argue about choosing the name osprey. The talons look like enough of a weapon to keep me quiet for awhile.

As the team is getting ready for the first baseball game of the season, I don't know if we are supposed to cheer each boy by their given name or by "Hawk Cody" or "Buzzard Alex" or "Falcon Joey". Using those raptor names just might be a good diversion for the opposing team!

Kidlet Three the Osprey! I never would've thought I'd live with an osprey!

Sunday Morning Pancake - Pannekoeken

2012-04-30T21:37:00.002-05:00

Take a guess what I'm making with the following:

4 T. butter

1/2 cup flour

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

Sprinkle of nutmeg

Cast iron pan

I have to admit, the combination of ingredients

don't look like much. But these simple

staples make a baked pancake, like

a Pannekoeken.

Put the 4 T. butter in the cast iron pan.

Place the pan in the oven and preheat oven to 425 degrees.

You want the butter to melt but not turn brown so

keep on eye on it.

Break the eggs into a bowl and whisk just slightly.

Add 1/2 cup milk to the eggs.

Sprinkle nutmeg over the liquid mixture.

Pour the liquid mixture over the flour

and whisk together. There may be

lumps but that is okay.

Remove the hot pan (and melted butter) from the oven.

Pour mixture into the pan.

Paula Dean would love all that butter!

Bake for 15 minutes.

We enjoy ours with maple syrup.

Kidlet Two made this in the restaurant the other day

and sliced apples on the top.

Enjoy this amazingly simple dish!

Do you know him?

2012-04-21T19:42:00.000-05:00

I'm just back from a women's conference, Devoted Hearts, in My City. It was one of those conferences you leave feeling like you've had a big glass of refreshing, cold water. My soul was filled and encouraged and I loved worshiping with a thousand women.

Plus, I got to attend with two special women. They happen to be sisters and since I don't have a sister, they agreed to adopt me!!!

One of the speakers we heard started most of her sessions with a video. This video was played last night and I felt like leaping from my chair and screaming at the top of my lungs as it played. I felt like a crazed fan at an exciting sports event but the excitement in this video was over the Truth of My Lord!

Enjoy this amazing video. Let me know if you screamed in excitement as you watched!

Granola

2012-04-18T23:20:00.001-05:00

My laptop died! Seriously died. It has taken us a couple of days to re-install the operating system and all the applications. Thankfully it is now up and running and I can post again!

During my non-computer time, I did some cooking. I was hungry for granola to stir into my yogurt. Somewhere along the way I'd picked up a new recipe to try. This recipe is not too sweet. The next time I make it I will definitely add a little bit of cinnamon.

3 cups old fashioned oats

1/4 cup slivered almonds (I'm still learning how to zoom in on my new camera)

1 cup raisins

1/4 cup flax seed (I bought the already ground flax seed)

2 T. brown sugar

1/4 cup applesauce. That is half of this container. I ate the other half!

2 T. maple syrup

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl/

Stir until everything is combined.

Spread evenly over a cookie sheet.

Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.

This is an amazing granola over low-fat vanilla yogurt.

Be Used

2012-04-13T13:17:00.002-05:00

Normally I wouldn't share two devotional posts in a row. But this morning as I flipped my daily calendar to the April 13 date and read Max Lucado's update for today, I changed my philosophy. This is an excerpt from his book, Come Thirsty.

********

"I do not live anymore--it is Christ who lives in me." Galatians 2:20

You have leaves to rake. A steering wheel to grip. A neighbor's hand to shake. Simply put, you have things to do.

So does God. Babies need hugs. Children need good-night tucks. AIDS orphans need homes. Stressed-out executives need hope. God has work to do. And he uses our hands to do it. What the hand is to the glove, the Spirit is to the Christian....

God gets into us. At times, imperceptibility. Other times, disruptively. God gets his fingers into our lives, inch by inch, reclaiming the territory that is rightfully his. Your tongue...your feet...your mind...your eyes, face, and hands. Through them he will weep, smile, and touch.

********

How about you?

Have you allowed yourself to be Be Used today?

He is Personal

2012-04-11T12:33:00.000-05:00

********

Hebrews 4:15: Our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses.

When God chose to reveal Himself, he did so (surprise of surprises) through a human body. The tongue that called forth the dead was a human one. The hand that touched the leper had dirt under its nails. The feet upon which the woman wept were calloused and dusty. And his tears--oh, don't miss the tears--they came from a heart as broken as yours or mine ever has been...

So, people came to him. My, how they came to him!...Why? Because he refused to be a statue in a cathedral or a priest in an elevated pulpit. He chose instead to be Jesus.

From Max Lucado's book God Came Near

********

Jesus chose to be personal.

He is personal.

Deciding to die for a group of people that don't deserve it is personal.

The group of people he died for is all of mankind.

You.

Me.

He is so interested in you.

And in me.

Just as we have an inner need for human relationships.

I believe we have an inner need for Jesus.

Whether we'll admit it or not.

He looks forward to having a relationship with each of us.

He is personal.

Feeding Alligators and Mini Golf

2012-04-09T21:32:00.004-05:00

Smuggler's Cove in Sarasota, Florida is a miniature golf facility with live alligators, pirate ships, waterfalls and what looks like mountains.

At the start of the course, you are given the option of purchasing alligator food. A marble-sized piece of meat is clipped onto the end of a fishing pole and you lower the pole into the alligator-filled pool. Each of The Kidlets went "fishing".

And then we started golfing.

We golfed around water and into caves.

Kidlet Two and I both got a hole in one on the same hole. Would you believe that was the 'secret hole' for this course! We both ended up winning a free game of miniature golf because of this phenomenon!

It was a fun evening and we enjoyed each other's company. Kidlet Three ended up beating us all!

Good Friday 31 Years Ago

2012-04-06T17:29:00.001-05:00

The Husband was not raised in a family that went to church together. His mother was Catholic and faithfully attended mass but it was in Latin and not inviting to a young boy. His dad was a member in the Lutheran church but The Husband did not attend church with him.

There was a large family Bible on display in their home and from a young age, The Husband remembers wanting to read that Bible. The Bible was written in King James and hard to understand so this desire to understand the Bible didn't get met. The hunger to know about God is a strong memory from his childhood.

As a funeral director, The Husband attended many funerals in different churches. Pastors and priests rode in the car with him as they drove to cemeteries. This was often the time the clergy would share their faith with The Husband. The gospel of Jesus laying down His life for the freedom of our sins was explained to The Husband for the first time in a funeral car. But it didn't make sense at the time.

Thirty-one years ago on Good Friday The Husband had a surgery that would change his life. Prior to the surgery, a central line IV line was placed in his chest for the multiple bags of IV fluids that would be needed pre- and post-surgery. The surgery went fine. The Friday after Easter, The Husband started coughing and was having trouble breathing. He rapidly went downhill and a code 45 was called with someone bagging him for air into his lungs. Quickly he was brought into ICU and placed on a ventilator. That was Friday.

Tests were run to determine what was going on in The Husband's body with nothing conclusive showing up. By Sunday morning The Husband was in kidney failure. X-rays of his chest showed his right lung to be the size of a thumb tip. His body was shutting down. He was alert but unable to communicate. He heard the doctors tell his parents that he was probably going to die and they should call in a priest.

Bargaining with God is not uncommon in the face of death. And that is what The Husband did. Lying in ICU knowing his body was dying he asked God to rescue him and in return, he would give his life back to God and live for Him the rest of his life.

Within minutes of that plea, a doctor came into the ICU and literally jammed a chest tube in between The Husband's ribs (without any anesthesia). Liters and liters of fluid started spraying from the hole in his side. Once all that fluid was emptied from his chest, his lung filled up and he was able to breath on his own. It turns out that the IV line poked through the wall of vein and every bag of IV fluid hung was drowning The Husband. He completely recovered from this near death experience.

Friday started his death watch. Sunday was his resurrection. God rescued him and The Husband kept his word also...he has turned his life over to God for thirty-one years.

And do you realize that God offers the same thing for you? His Son, Jesus, offered up Himself out of love on Good Friday. Not just for a death watch but for death and being sent to hell. Hell is eternal separation from God. On Sunday, three days after death, Jesus conquered Satan and ascended out of hell into heaven. He paid the price that each and every one of us should be paying. He bought a Salvation Ticket for each person.

Once The Husband accepted the free gift of salvation, that hunger for God he'd had as a young boy was filled. And as he reads his Bible now, he understands it.

The Husband had his Good Friday experience the week after the traditional one. I would like ask you on this Good Friday, to consider taking the rescue, the Salvation Ticket that God has to offer you.

Today....

2012-04-05T20:18:00.002-05:00

Stalking the Minnesota Twins

2012-04-03T09:48:00.001-05:00

I have a new camera with a very powerful, built-in zoom. This camera has the ability to zoom into the dugout of the Minnesota Twins (over by third base) when we are seated by first base. Or even to zoom onto Denard Span's face out in center field or Danny Valencia wherever he is on the field.

Yesterday on vacation we attended a Minnesota Twins baseball game in Port Charlotte, Florida. They were playing the Tampa Bay Rays in a pre-season game. I brought my camera along to really see how close I could zoom in.

This camera rocks! Even the people sitting behind me could see how closely I could zoom in on a player's face. I could even zoom into the bullpen way out beyond right field.

After the game as my Kidlets were reviewing the pictures, they determined I am a stalker. I guess they felt it was pretty creepy that I would even want to zoom in so closely on the face of a Minnesota Twin. I called it "practice". Most of the pictures I had to delete right away because as I clicked to snap the picture I would shake and most of my stalker-type pictures were blurry. There is a real science to zooming, holding the hand steady and clicking the photo, at least that is what I told them.

Here are a few close-up photos of the Minnesota Twins who ended the game in a tie yesterday. You can decide if you feel this was stalking...

We had am amazing afternoon at the game. And I think my camera takes amazing pictures!

Words are Not Necessary...

2012-04-02T21:20:00.000-05:00

Riley Posts

2012-04-01T23:07:00.003-05:00

Hi, my name is Riley. It has been awhile since I've posted.

SoAmazed and her family have gone on vacation

and I have a dog sitter staying with me.

While my family is away, I feel a tremendous burden

to protect the family's property.

Let me give you a quick overview

of all my responsibilities.

There is a chipmunk that jumps from the

deck onto the bird feeder. I station myself

under the feeder and keep an eye out for

that little critter.

Along the back fence I sniff for evidence of intruders.

Even the slightest noise puts me on guard.

I believe this picture was taken when someone

walked along the front of the house and I

needed to see who it was.

Inside the house, I can see out the front door.

I've been known to stand in this spot for periods

of time waiting for people to walk past the house.

After the sniffing and patrolling, I do take a break.

Laying on the couch is allowed by SoAmazed

so I know I won't get in trouble when she gets home.

I miss SoAmazed. Often she cuddles with me

on this very couch.

After my break, it is back to work.

Standing on the deck, I check out the backyard.

There was a disturbance that needed my attention here.

My second favorite spot in the house is this chair.

I can stand in this chair for hours.

From here I can see any bird, dog or person

that moves outside.

I take this job seriously.

I bark and bark and bark and bark and bark...

if I see movement outside.

Even if I sit, I have a great view.

My kennel is a haven.

As I get older, I find that I enjoy

a little R&R in here even when I

don't have to go in.

When SoAmazed leaves the house,

she and and the family put me in

here. If I don't go in here, I

get tempted to dig through garbage cans.

I guess I get bored...

The dog sitter does a great job feeding me.

I love my food.

Does anyone have any questions about me

or what I do around the house?

SoAmazed, would you please come home.

All of the extra patrolling

and barking is wearing on me.

I miss my family!

Let's Play Ball

2012-03-27T17:29:00.000-05:00

The hockey equipment is dried out and packed away.

Baseball gloves, balls and the hitting machine have been set up in the family room (yes, you read that correctly) for several weeks now. All in preparation of the baseball season.

Kidlet Three has been involved in three nights of baseball tryouts to secure a place on a traveling baseball team.

Last night was the final night and he did make one of the two teams and we are all so excited. And we are very proud of him.

The Husband and I will have a social life again now. Since hockey ended, we've been rattling around in the house together missing all of the other hockey parents. Isn't that a selfish reason to have your child play sports...for the social life!

So with great excitement we look forward to many evenings and weekends watching games like this one...

And I look forward to adding my chair into this line of moms watching the game...

The Husband always grills during tournament weekends so he has been eyeing the tub of grilling supplies in the garage in anticipation...

And even the rainy ballgames will be fun and something to look forward too.

Let's play ball!

A1c Result

2012-03-24T11:19:00.000-05:00

Woot! Woot! There is celebrating going on in our house.

Every three months Kidlet Three has a blood A1c test. This amazing test reveals the blood glucose levels for three months. It is like our blood cells store 'history'. There can be no secrets in the blood cells. The A1c level will tell if diabetes has been in control or not.

A person that does not have Type 1 diabetes might have an A1c level between 4.5 and 5.5. A person with Type 1 diabetes, with good control of their diabetes, will have an A1c between 6 to 8.

For the seven years Kidlet Three has had diabetes, his A1c levels have ranged between 8 and 8.9.

Which isn't bad. I'm told there are children that have A1c levels up to 11.

But we don't want a level that 'isn't bad', we want the best possible level! Keeping diabetes in control will keep Kidlet Three healthy and hopefully keep diabetes complications from not occurring.

Exercise, stress, teenage hormonal changes, and other factors affect blood sugar levels. The past three months with Kidlet Three playing traveling hockey and growing several inches, have been a challenge. The balancing act of keeping the blood sugar levels (from the finger poke blood sugar checks) in the 80 to 120 range by figuring out how much insulin to give, continues to be the challenge in management.

Drum roll please...

We got the results of the latest A1c in a letter yesterday.

Did you hear the hollers of excitement ringing through the air.

For the first time in 7 years, Kidlet Three's level is below 8. Seeing the numbers 7.6 on the letter brought tears, hugs, and even some jumping up and down in excitement.

This great result is even more exciting because Kidlet Three has really taken over much of his diabetes management.

Woot! Woot! It is an amazing day!

A Full Platter

2012-03-19T21:46:00.000-05:00

Work is really complicated right now with re-organization

My father-in-law calls the house repeatedly from his skilled care room

Kidlet Three has Type 1 diabetes which affects every single thing he does

I have a friend with serious issues in her life and I've promised to be her advocate

Oh and there is a whole lot more.

A whole lot more issues

Remember I choose to NOT let my mind go over and over the issues in my life

If I do allow my mind to go over the list, it gets just too overwhelming

Which leads me to my complaining session with God

I have a relationship with God

He and I talk about everything and anything

I trust Him and I know beyond a shadow of doubt that He is in control of my life

So I questioned Him about all of the issues that were piling up on me

In reality, my questioning was more like complaining

This all happened as I was walking between meetings at work

My brain was going over all of the issues and soon I was hyperventilating

Fighting to breathe over issues I can't control but are so important to me

And then the picture popped into my mind

A picture of a huge platter

Kind of like the platter Kidlet Three is holding in the picture

As I walked I was able to 'see' this platter get stacked with all kinds of rocks

Big rocks, little rocks, jagged rocks, dirty rocks

The rocks represented all of the issues in my life

In the picture, the rocks were really stacking up

Which led me to yell at God: see what I mean?

Those rocks weigh a lot and are bringing me down!

God can handle me yelling at Him
I've done it before

And in His loving way, He changed the picture for me

The picture of the platter changed to see a Hand holding it

Just like in the picture here, there was a Hand holding the rock platter

See, I am the platter

The issues are rocks that are in my life

And God is the Hand holding me up

I don't have to do anything

He holds me up

There is nothing I have to carry

Because a platter can't carry anything..literally

Someone has to carry the platter

Whew! What freedom came to me when I looked at the Hand

And took my eyes off the rocks

How about you

What are you carrying these days on your platter

Know that God never asked you to carry things yourself

He is the only one that can give real rest.

Check out Matthew 11:25-30 from The Message Bible

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Turning 25

2012-03-15T22:40:00.000-05:00

Guess who is turning 25 on March 16...

Our AMAZING daughter!

Oh what a glorious day it was the day you were born.

You have grown into a beautiful, loving, helpful, discerning, smart, fun, tender and powerful woman.

May God just bless your socks off today and in the coming years!

WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Dad and Mom

The FUNNIEST Show on TV

2012-03-15T17:20:00.000-05:00

I wonder how many of you would remember these good TV shows from the past:

Lassie

Bonanza

Walt Disney

I Love Lucy

It is so difficult to find a TV show that doesn't have:

Blood

Guns

Boobs (yup, I typed it)

Dads made to look dumb

Horrific crime scenes

You get the picture.

Well, Kidlet Three and I have found a show that we record each week. We even go back and re-watch certain episodes because we laugh so hard.

Before I tell you what the show is, I have to remind you that it has always been very important to me that all three of my Kidlets be able to cook several meals on their own before they graduate and move on to college. They have to be able to sustain themselves in cooking, cleaning and doing their own laundry. And Kidlet Three is on his way to this independence having mastered a quesadilla! Well, he is make other meals, too, but that is his standby meal!

Back to the TV show we love. Have you seen this show?

Watching these adults try to cook and do basic tasks is nothing less than hilarious. Then put them with Master Chefs Anne and Bobbie and the fun gets 'kicked up a notch'.

The episode from this week had one of the women walking around the kitchen with flour all over in her hair because she hadn't put the cover on the food processor when she was mixing flour and butter. Oh my gosh it was funny.

Check out this link, worst-cooks-in-america, to watch episodes online. I would love to hear you laugh as you watch it!

Flu and A Good Word

2012-03-14T23:04:00.000-05:00

After our hospital week last week, we had a fun weekend. Saturday night our small group met together for dinner. We usually go around the table giving each person the chance to share whatever is on their heart: a word of encouragement, asking for help about an issue or giving an update as to what is going on with them. No pressure..just a time to be accountable or not. Sometimes we worship together but we do always pray for one another. It was a highlight of the weekend.

Sunday found us at church in the morning, running errands in the afternoon and then to the hockey year-end-party in the evening.

Then the flu bug caught me. Monday early, early morning my tummy was not a happy camper. Because The Husband gets dehydrated after one puke event (was that too much information?) I moved to the basement bedroom and bathroom so I didn't expose him to any germs. There I lived from Monday morning until this morning. Thankfully I am better.

As I came upstairs today and turned the daily calendar on the Max Lucado devotional, I just knew I had to share this with you. From his book, Next Door Savior, this is Max Lucado. And this is a 'good word':

**********

You've barely dipped a toe into Matthew's gospel when you realize Jesus hails from the Tilted-Halo Society. Rahab was a Jericho harlot. Grandpa Jacob was slippery enough to warrant an electric ankle bracelet. David had a personality as irregular as a Picasso painting--one day writing psalms, another day seducing his captain's wife. But did Jesus erase his name from the list? Not at all...

Why did Jesus hang his family's dirty laundry on the neighborhood clothesline? Because your family has some too...[and] Jesus wants you to know, "I've been there."... To the lonely, Jesus whispers, "I've been there." To the discouraged, Christ nods his head and sighs, "I've been there."

**********

Isn't that a good word? None of us comes from a perfect family. None of us is perfect. Jesus wants us to know that He understands. That because He walked on this earth He can say "I've been there". He is the one that has overcome all. He is the 'good word' that we should look to in all circumstances in our lives.

May you know Him, personally. The one that says "I've been there....for you."

Excellent Chocolate Chip Cookies

2012-03-11T21:11:00.002-05:00

In my recipe box from YEARS ago, is a recipe entitled

Excellent Chocolate Chip Cookies

Before The Husband went into the hospital last weekend,

we made this big batch of cookies.

Here is the ingredient list:

2 cups butter (I used 1 cup shortening and 1 cup butter)

2 cups sugar

2 cups packed brown sugar

4 eggs

4 cups flour

5 cups oatmeal, blended to a powder

1 t. salt

2 t. baking powder

2 t. soda

24 oz. chocolate chips

3 cups chopped walnuts, optional

The Husband helped blend the oatmeal

Oatmeal before blending....

...and oatmeal after blending

Set the oatmeal aside.

Place the shortening and butter in mixing bowl.

Add the brown and white sugars...

and blend together well.

Begin adding the dry ingredients...

and then the chocolate chips and nuts.

This is one full bowl!

Use an ice cream scoop and drop onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 12 minutes.

With a hot cup of coffee, these cookies are amazingly delicious!

War: The Fight Is On

2012-03-08T21:30:00.000-06:00

War: The Fight is On

Monday morning as I started my day in prayer, this is the God-Nudge that came to me. You might remember that the night before The Husband had been admitted to the hospital with a possible bowel obstruction.

Twenty-five years ago when The Husband and I were expecting our first child, he had a bowel obstruction. The doctors told us his abdominal x-ray looked like a rubber band that has been rubbed between your hands and is nothing but a twisted mess. Surgery was done to straighten the twisted mess. And within 24-hours of post-surgery, The Husband was worse!

See, he grows scar tissue like Campbell's makes soup. Back to surgery he went and within 30 minutes of the start of surgery, the surgeon walked into the room where I was waiting. For the second time in The Husband's life, the surgeon could not even cut him open. The scar tissue (adhesion) was so dense, that the surgical team was breaking scalpels trying to cut open The Husband. Those adhesions had completely closed up any remaining bowel. He was closed up and laid in the hospital bed for two months waiting for the adhesions to soften so food could pass.

Monday morning, I knew that this was a very real possibility in front of us.

And the only way out of this was our Amazing God.

War: The Fight is On

The Fight is prayer. In prayer I worship, give honor and glory to the Living God who is and has been faithful to The Husband and I. There were many other prayer warriors that joined me in praying for this loop of bowel to unkink.

Again, God was faithful. He amazes me.

Stress and fear try to creep in when these health issues pop up. Sometimes I am tempted to make a list of all the 'issues' in my life and there are some ongoing Could-Be-Stressful-Issues. If I spend time reviewing that list, wow, I can really get myself into a funk.

War: The Fight is On

includes my thoughts. There is a war for my thoughts. I have to choose to NOT review the list and to keep my thoughts on the One-That-Is-Faithful.

Which brings me to one of my favorite songs, "This Warrior Is a Child". I found myself singing this song today. I hadn't heard it in years but it has been a song that I have felt could be my trademark song. When the battle is on. When there is War and the Fight is On...sometimes the Warrior Is a Child and needs to go running home to God. To His Home to be refreshed and re-strengthened.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with issues in life. If you are needing to know God's incredible, refreshing and unending love, run to Him.

You can choose to trust in Him just as I do.